Assemblymember Tom Ammiano. File photo by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
August 3, 2011
LGBT and progressive icon Assemblymember Tom Ammiano was in town yesterday to lend his political heft to a rally in support of legislation aimed at strengthening the city’s minimum wage law.
Never the one to shy away from a press interview, Ammiano discussed several topics of interest with FCJ, including this year’s mayor’s race.
Ammiano, a fourteen-year veteran of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, is best known for his wit and his progressive credentials, championing groundbreaking universal health care legislation in 2006 among his notable accomplishments before continuing his legacy in the California Assembly. He also ran for mayor twice, the first time as a write-in candidate in 1999 against incumbent Willie Brown, and again in 2003 for the open seat against Gavin Newsom, Matt Gonzalez and Angela Alioto.
Ammiano is currently working in the Assembly to pass a non-partisan omnibus package of reform legislation aimed at taxing marijuana and decriminalizing its use.
FCJ: What do you make of this year’s mayor’s race and do you think Ed Lee is going to run?
TA: I did hear that Ed Lee is going to go to Burning Man so maybe that will be the solution. I think, you know, it’s going to be a lottery. John Avalos is my number one – I’m so appreciative of him because he really gave me, as a progressive, a place to go and I do think he’s distinguishing himself among that pack.
It’s going to be up to the public. As many people as we think know about this, even if it’s a thousand or so, we’re all insiders and it doesn’t really click with the electorate until around after Labor Day and October and, I think, that that’s going to be the crunch time when we see how things are going to break down, whether it’s name recognition or money, or disenchantment with Ed Lee or not – I think it’s all really premature at the moment.
FCJ: As you know, Ed Lee was appointed by the Board on the condition he would not run for a full-term. If Ed Lee decides to run, do you think he should resign first to even the playing field? Would this be the right thing to do?
TA: You know, I think there are a lot of strategies at stake. I think what they’re going to do is look (pause) – if he does resign, then where does that leave the city? I think, if I were him, I wouldn’t resign but I would take the heat knowing full well that that’s yet another criticism that’s gonna (pause) – because you know he has to take positions or distance himself from the ballot races. All of that is going to be awkward for him. But, again, it’s so inside; I really don’t know how it’s going to translate yet.
FCJ: If he runs, he will have gone against his word. Will that be a valid criticism?
TA: That is the thing he is going to have to battle. He may be thinking he can battle through it. You know, when you’re an incumbent, you can do a lot of things for a lot of people, even if you’re not asked, then that softens an image. So we’ll have to see how the campaign is run.
My druthers would be – you know, I like Ed a lot and everything – and I was somewhat disappointed when he said he was going to do it, a little bit of you feels like you were took. However, it’s reality and I think you have to look at it deliberately without emotion getting in the way. And I hate to sound too cynical but, you know, I’ve been around a while – mayor’s races come and mayor’s races go and somehow we proceed.
FCJ: If he runs and wins, won’t it essentially be another eight years of Willie Brown at the helm?
TA: I am hoping that that would not be the case, that it wouldn’t be that simplistic, so let’s see what happens.
I think that Willie is definitely part of what is happening, but, you know, new generations come up all the time. Guys like me and even Willie Brown, you know, people look for new blood at the same time. So he may not have the juice he once had. Time will tell. But I think it would be an error just to focus on this is only Willie Brown, this is only Rose Pak, because then you’re not looking at the big picture and that’s what you really want to do. You’ve got to look at it in context.
FCJ: Is there’s a distinct advantage to running as an incumbent? This year’s mayor’s race was supposed to be an open seat race with no incumbent running.
TA: Always. However we’ve also had incumbents lose – Agnos, for instance. So, even with that advantage, particularly now in the mayor’s race where there’s so many choices and so much personal baggage. Again, I think it’s a little early, particularly for the average voter.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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